Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 345.09 (2026)
Service of process on nonresident
✓ current as of July 2026
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345.09(1)(1) The use and operation of a motor vehicle over the highways of this state by a nonresident is considered an irrevocable appointment by the nonresident of the secretary to be the true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against the nonresident or the nonresident’s personal representative, growing out of the use or operation of the motor vehicle in this state and resulting in damage or loss to person or property, whether the damage or loss occurs on a highway or on abutting public or private property. The appointment of the secretary as attorney for service of process is binding upon the nonresident’s personal representative. The use or operation of a motor vehicle over the highways of this state by the nonresident is a signification of the nonresident’s agreement that any legal process or notice against the nonresident or the nonresident’s personal representative that is so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served on them personally.
345.09(2)(2) The secretary as attorney upon whom processes and notices may be served under this section shall, upon being served with such process or notice, forthwith mail by registered mail a copy thereof to such nonresident at the out-of-state nonresident address given in the papers so served. It is the duty of the party or the party’s attorney to certify in the papers so served that the address given therein is the last-known out-of-state nonresident address of the party to be served. In all cases of service under this section there shall be served 2 authenticated copies for the secretary and such additional number of authenticated copies as there are defendants so served in the action. One of the secretary’s copies shall be retained for the secretary’s record of service and the other copy shall be returned with proper certificate of service attached for filing in court as proof of service of the copies by having mailed them by registered mail to the defendants named therein. The service fee shall be $25 for each defendant so served. The secretary shall keep a record of all such processes and notices, which record shall show the day and hour of service.
345.09(3)(3) This section applies to a nonresident defendant who was a resident of this state at the time of the accident or occurrence which gave rise to the cause of action sued on.
345.09 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 29 ss. 1467, 1654 (7) (c); 1977 c. 60, 418; 1993 a. 16; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 102.
345.09 AnnotationService upon a nonresident defendant’s father at the father’s residence was insufficient for the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the nonresident, despite claimed actual notice, when no attempt was made to comply with this section. Chilcote v. Shertzer, 372 F. Supp. 86 (1974).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1961–2025 · leading case: Rosenberg v. Smidt, 727 P.2d 778 (Alaska 1986).
Rosenberg v. Smidt, 727 P.2d 778 (Alaska 1986). “, now Wis. Stat. Ann. § 345.09 (2) (West 1971)) (nonresident motor vehicle operator); see also Ohio Civ.”
Carlson v. Bos, 740 P.2d 1269 (Utah 1987). “§§ 56-3-31 , -33 (1985) (bond); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 345.09 (2) (1985) (party or party's attorney must certify last known out-of-state address).”
Globig v. Greene & Gust Co., 193 F. Supp. 544 (E.D. Wis. 1961). “(1951), is presently Section 345.09, Wis.Stats. (1959). 7 . Revision Committee Note, 1951 — “ * * (4) is new and is for the benefit of residents of the state who do business with a foreign corporation that has not obtained a certificate of authority by permitting service on such…”
Chilcote v. Shertzer, 372 F. Supp. 86 (E.D. Wis. 1974). “No attempt to comply with the pro *88 visions of Wisconsin’s nonresident motorist statute, § 345.09, Wis.Stats. (1971), or any other applicable statute, has been shown.”
James v. Aurora Health Care (E.D. Wis. 2025). “Luczowski, the plaintiff argues that Wis. Stat. §345.09 (2) and (3) allow him to serve “by U.”
Herchelroth v. Mahar, 129 N.W.2d 140 (Wis. 1964). “718 , this court held that the predecessor of sec. 345.09, Stats., did not authorize substituted service on the administratrix of a deceased nonresident.”
— Wis. Stat. § 345.09(2) — 2 cases
Rosenberg v. Smidt, 727 P.2d 778 (Alaska 1986). “, now Wis. Stat. Ann. § 345.09 (2) (West 1971)) (nonresident motor vehicle operator); see also Ohio Civ.”
Carlson v. Bos, 740 P.2d 1269 (Utah 1987). “§§ 56-3-31 , -33 (1985) (bond); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 345.09 (2) (1985) (party or party's attorney must certify last known out-of-state address).”
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